CHAPTER 24: CH 24: ARCHIVE.

’Fuuuuck! So I guess I’m not OP.’

He thought as he clenched his jaw.

The blood seeps through the shoulder, soaked up by his sweatshirt and the rest onto the floor.

He tried to minimise his movements, to prevent anymore blood loss.

He straightened his arm, using his other to check the back of the shoulder.

’Fuck, I was right, there’s no exit wound... And that means the bullet’s still in my goddamn shoulder’

Selene walked over him, each step slower than the last, like she was trying to feign interest but it was very hard.

She finally reached him just as she crouched down beside him, close enough to see yet far enough to avoid the blood.

She murmured, "Hmm, it didn’t work."

Levi, irate, "Hmm, it didn’t work? You just shot me in the shoulder and all you have to say is Hmm it didn’t work."

She shrugged him off, observing the bullet hole.

"Is there an exit wound?"

He didn’t spare her a glance, irritated, "No, there isn’t."

"Don’t hold your breath," She dusted off her hands, "this is gonna hurt."

She carried two fingers, carefully, then inserted the two fingers into his shoulder, sticking out a tongue to the side like a child.

His teeth were pressed so hard against each other he thought they might crack, ’Fucking pull it out already.’

"Got it."

She said as she yanked out the sniper bullet from deep within his shoulder.

She brought the blood-stained bullet into the light, studying it.

Levi sat up, taking off his blood drenched top and using it as a rag to clean the floor.

Selene’s cheeks flashed a slight pink before she averted her gaze.

Then sitting on it.

She sat right next to him.

"You’re already healing... I felt the tendons attaching themselves back together."

He didn’t turn to her, "You act like you didn’t enjoy shooting at me."

"I did," she laughed, "But it’s not just for me, we’re doing this for an actual fighting chance Levi and I need you to take it a little more seriously."

He sighed.

"Yeah I know, I will... But what about you?"

Selene arched a brow, "What are you talking about Kane?"

He continued, "You know why I’m here and why I joined L.U.X, but why did you? Why are you here?"

She locked her eyes with him, expression stoic, "That’s classified."

She stood up, dusting off her back and wiping the blood smeared on her fingers onto his sweatpants.

She marched for the door, "Tomorrow we go again."

He placed his hands on his knees whilst still on the floor, "You know the less I know about you the harder it is to trust you."

She halted, placing her hands on her waist, "Levi, I was always a military girl, it was always what I wanted...

But I joined L.U.X in particular after I watched someone I loved get turned... I shouldn’t have even thought twice...

I should’ve killed him then and there, where he stood."

And with that she marched out of the room.

Selene didn’t look back. She never did.

But as the door slid shut behind her, a flicker of guilt crept up her spine.

She hated lying to him.

Not because he didn’t deserve it—but because he was starting to remind her of someone else.

Someone she couldn’t save.

Someone she wished she had just killed.

Levi remained on the floor, ’Fucking Liar.’

---

Selene walked out of the room and got straight onto the elevator taking her to Mr Manhattan’s office.

She knocked on the door, stepping in and immediately sitting now.

He folded his fingers onto the table, "How is he?"

She stared him in the eye, "He’s progressing steadily, training just started and at least now I know how his evolution works so I know how to plan for it."

Mr Manhattan nodded, "The gala is coming up soon—"

She groaned.

"Why do I need to attend those things every year?"

He brought his hands to his temple, rubbing them slightly, "Because unfortunately for us, the division needs the funding from people and so we need to run elbows with the rich."

"Understood sir."

He raised a finger, "That’s not all. The heads have seen Levi now and they want to meet him in person, so get him ready because in a month he’s coming to the gala with us."

She arched a brow, "Sir, are you sure that’s a good idea. No offence but I’ve seen Levi’s temper and I don’t think it’s something we need around investors or heads."

"We don’t have a say in the matter anymore, as long as the heads say they want him there then he’s gonna be there and on his best behaviour—"

She leaned in, trying to stop him, "Come on Sir, babysitting him isn’t my responsibility."

His brows furrowed, "Actually it is. You were the one who brought him into the division despite knowing he’s a Kane and now everything that concerns him falls onto you and you alone."

She opened her mouth to speak but he stopped her with a look that said: I’m not done.

"You have a month to get him on his best behaviour, teach him etiquette, train him and build the trust, anything that’ll make him not pick a fight with someone there...

Am I understood?"

She nodded, "Understood sir... Levi will be ready."

---

Levi picked himself off the training floor, leaving him blood drenched top there.

Still feeling lightheaded, and a pain in his shoulder, although it was almost gone it still hurts like hell.

He moved past the soldiers and trainees, straight to the dining hall to eat something.

The dining hall was stark and utilitarian—rows of metal tables bolted to the floor, each flanked by rigid benches that offered no comfort.

The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting a cold, sterile glow on the scuffed linoleum.

But the good thing was they were no restrictions, he moved to the line, got a plate and made his way to his usual seat.

Far back in the corner where no one would disturb him for anything.

No sooner had he sat down when someone slid into the seat next to him.

He turned— it was Jace.

"Alright. This is how we get into the archives..."